St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-09
.sThe same business?'' demands she,

"Tle same business demands she,
eagerly.
"You re wonderful guesser,' re
turns he. There is a vague suggestion OF
n sheer In his smile. Before going,
however I want to tell you that IL stroke
of luck has at last fallen ut my feet. To-
day the-my-my chief sent for me and
offered me "a higher stool in the office,
in fact
He hesitated good deal, and seems in
deed stngularly ignorant OF the proper
terms to be used with regard to his rise
in his position.
81 am very glad" says Nadine, in her
clear, cold girlish voice, so devoid of real
interest.
''This rise will enable me to marry"
continues he, watching her closely. She
is evidently aware of his scrutiny, be
cause her face remains impasSive, even
while her fingers interlace each other and
grow into clasp that leaves her knuckles
white. She mods her head softly in an
swer to his remark, not trusting herself
to speak.
But it will take me out Of town. He
is watching her still narrowly. But TINS
time she manages to meet his gaze. Ii,
indeed, her fate is to marry this man,
and 20 with him wheresoever he goes,
then it viii be only kind OF fortune TO
drive them into the country, tar from TINS
great London, where one meets every
one, and where those known to her IN her
present life might sometimes (cruel
thought be seen by her
''N ell?'' she says.
at will take me out ct the country.
The fact is, continues he, rushing at the
rest Of his communication, Il have been
offered Il post of--of trust that will take
me TO America.
"You 30 there in search of this man
who has stolen the sapphircs:' says she,
quickly. You are hunting him down.
Il tbs your post Of trusty Are you IA
dctcctive>"
Something like a vague smile fits
across lis face as he notices how she
shrin,s f,om him.
ssNot sactly." His tone is full of mys-
terry If detectives are a5horront to
you be happy il tie thought that l taye
nothing IA common VITA tHem; that, IL
fact, detest them quite as much as you
do. No; am going there ill advance OF
TIE detectives, as I hope. You IL be
ready to come with me-:
''Is it to be 6oOl:'
"Itmay sound soon to you, perhaps, In
about a month from today 1t IS no"
growing toward the end OF July 'HUt
I riav have to start earlier than that. You
will be ready"
lie is very pale as he presses the qne3-
ton. Ii she rcfuSes-if she even bar
caihs for more time, it Will cause confls-
ion. Bat she does not refuse. A pro-
found sigh escapes her, but she says:
Yes, shall be ready in voice sub
ducd but void Of trembling. If s.le Is TO
! marry him, and thus to resign all Good
the world can give her, it will make LIT
tie difference whether she lives WIKI him
here or in that far country he mas
named: then a sudden thought occur
ring. she looks at him eagerly: My
| mothcre' she says.
''Will OF course accompany us.
"Wiu our stay there be long:'
Il hardly know-fOr some years Gel
| tainly: after that it is undecided
| ''Lvcrytling is undecided that lies in
| the wears berond:n she signs again,
You age going abroad tomorrow, you
| say"
/ Yes for a week or tvo-perhapS
| three. But | shall be back in time fer
! our weddnC.'
/ He attempts to speak lightly. Int the
! sad look on the girls face checks him.
! He is, however, too elated by the victor
! already achieved to know any fear TO-
/ the future No doubt she is pining at the
/ thought of leaving her home, but once
married to him. the power and persist
! encc of his love will conquer all regrets
So he thinks; so he vaiEly believes.
Don't look so grieved, my darling,
he whispers fondIy, pressing hen
| hand between both his own. ''Thinl
of the long and happy future thai
lies, before you, with me fOreNel
as your slave The time will come
| Nadine. when you will not regard an!
ties but the one that binds NE to you
Ties of home and kindred will be a!
naucht beside it. Though now, perhaps
YOU give me your leart unwillingly
then YOU will love even as you are be
loved. Oh. that that glad hour were
blended with this" He presses his lip
ecstatically to the hand he still holds
His whole face grows bright with TIL
| affection that gloWS within him. Thel
one word that he has used returns to hin
with UNPLEASANT force. Unwilling,
he goes on musingly, frowning slightly
eyes, YOU are unwilling to give me you
heart
"Ah, no." says she gently, and with
troubled air of uncertainty; II am no
unwilling. You mistake me. | would
with all my soul, that could love you q
you desire, and perhaps, indeed, i
timen- she hesitates, as though 10.
in a labyrinth of painful thought. INC
am not unwilling,' She repeats agar
feeling how good a thing it would be fl
her could she indeed obliterate from / e
mind all the too dear past and give BEL
self entirely to this man. "Iou speat d
though | am obstiuately withholt!in
something-as if You believed you weI
robbing me of the heart on which 70
set such store. But it is not SO. ha
ever else you may have stolen, it was nc
, nv love. You cannot steal that; bt
some day, perhaps, shall give it tc you.
Preoccupied as she is with sud an
hurtful memory, she is reused to presel
life by the curious glance and start til;
follows OF her speech. Both are subdue
: as suddenly rs they came, and Annerle